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Blobrana · L

RE: August 2013

Blobrana · L

Highlights

August 1 is the date of an ancient Pagan festival of Lammas or Lughnasadh (LOO-nah-sah). It marks the beginning of the last quarter of the Celtic year. The festival is associated with the god Lugh, or Samildanach, which means "he of many gifts".

The Perseids Meteor Shower Peaks on August 13th

Albireo
Probably the most colourful double star in the night sky can now be found nearly overhead at 11:30 p.m. local daylight time, in the constellation of Cygnus the Swan, also known as the Northern Cross. Albireo supposedly marks the swans beak.
A small telescope, or even a pair of steadily held binoculars, will readily split Albireo into two tiny points of light of beautiful contrasting colours: the brighter one a rich yellowish-orange, the other a deep azure blue, both placed very close together. An absolutely stunning view will come with a telescope magnifying between 18 and 30 power.

Sagittarius and the Galactic Centre.
For northern observers, the Teapot of Sagittarius should be dashing across the southern horizon. Observe the lower western corner, which lies immediately above the stinger of Scorpio, the scorpion. You are now looking straight toward the heart of the galaxy, the galactic centre. The actual centre is not visible to us due to the unimaginable amount of dust and stars blocking the way, but we do know something about it thanks to both radio and infrared radiation that is not so easily blocked.

Blobrana · L

Mercury: at magnitude -0.0, starts the month in the constellation of Gemini. The planet is Mercury (1.4 mag) is close (1.3° separated) to Regulus on the 23rd. Mercury is at Perihelion (distance to sun: 0.3075 AU) on the 12th. Mercury is at Superior Conjunction on the 24th. The Moon is 5° from Mercury on the 5th.
(On August 1st, RA= 7h23m04s Dec=+20°32.8' (J2000) Distance=0.920AU Phase k=44% Diameter=7.3")

Venus: is at magnitude -3.9. The planet is in the evening skies in the constellation Leo at the start of the month. It is best seen from 7.5h -21.2h. The Moon is 6° from Venus on the 9th.
(On August 1st, RA=10h53m57s Dec= +8°27.5' (J2000) Distance=1.329AU Phase k=82% Diameter=12.6")

Earth:

The Moon: Full moon at 01:44.6 UT, 21st August. Lunar perigee (distance 362280.5 km) at 01:33.2 UT, 19th August. Last Quarter Moon is at 09:35.0 UT 28th August. Lunar apogee (distance: 405807.2 km) is at 09:02.3 UT, 3rd August and at 23:50.0 UT 30th August. New Moon is at 21:50.7 UT, 6th August. First Quarter Moon at 10:56.0 UT, 14th August, 2013.

Mars: at magnitude 1.6 starts the month in the constellation Gemini. Martian northern Spring began on the 31st July.
(On August 1st, Distance=2.398AU Phase k=97% Diameter=3.9")

Jupiter: is in the constellation Gemini. At magnitude -2.0, the planet is observable in the morning sky this month. The Moon is 5.45° from Jupiter on the 4th, and 7° on the 31st..

Transit times of the Great Red Spot are posted in a separate thread.
(On August 1st, RA= 6h33m57s Dec=+23°02.6' (J2000) Distance=5.980AU Diameter=32.9")

Saturn: at magnitude 0.7 sits in the constellation Virgo. Saturn is near to the star Kappa Virginis. Saturn is about 7° from the Moon on the 12th. Saturn's rings are tilted ~17 degrees to our line of sight.
(On August 1st, RA=14h14m33s Dec=-10°59.8' (J2000) Distance=9.872AU Diameter=16.8")

Uranus: is in the constellation Pisces. Uranus at magnitude 5.8, has a bluish-green hue and appears 3.5 arcseconds wide. The planet is stationary on the 17th.
(On August 1st, RA= 0h46m10s Dec= +4°11.0' (J2000) Distance=19.571AU Diameter=3.6")

Neptune: is at magnitude 7.8 in the constellation Aquarius. The planet is best seen the morning sky. Neptune makes its closest approach to the Earth (28.973 AU) on the 26th. Neptune is at Opposition on the 27th
(On August 3rd, RA=22h26m06s Dec=-10°31.7' (J2000) Distance=29.052AU Diameter=2.3")

Pluto: is in the constellation Sagittarius (mag 14.1). Normally, a finder chart is necessary to help in identifying the 0.13" diameter dwarf planet. The dwarf planet was at opposition on the 2nd July.
(On August 2nd, RA=18h39m47s Dec=-19°57.2' (J2000) Distance=31.604AU Diameter=0.1")

The Sun enters the zodiac sign of Virgo at 23:02 UT on the 22nd August, 2013.

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